FEEDING PREFERENCES AND SIZE-RELATED DIETARY SHIFTS OF TREEFISH (SCORPAENIDAE: SEBASTES SERRICEPS) OFF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

摘要

An analysis of the stomach contents of 74 specimens of treefish, Sebasfes serriceps, collected from the Southern California Bight revealed that teleosts, crabs, and carideans were the most important prey in the diet of this species. The species of prey largely represented members of the benthic or epibenthic community in rock reefs and kelpforests. The dietary composition of treefish changed with fish size. The diets of smaller fish, 50-199 mm TL, consisted primarily of peracarideans, carideans, andcrabs. A dietary shift occurred in fish largerthan 200 mm TL, as largerfish showed increasing consumption of teleost fishes, and decreasing consumption of peracarideans and carideans. Based on treefish stomach contents, it appears that S. serriceps is anocturnal benthic forager.